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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 1 | Page : 35-38 |
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Epidemiology of acute decompensated heart failure in India : The AFAR study (Acute failure registry study)
Sandeep Seth1, Suraj Khanal2, Sivasubramanian Ramakrishnan1, Namit Gupta1, Vinay K Bahl1
1 Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India
2 Department of Cardiology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| Date of Web Publication | 22-May-2015 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Sandeep Seth
Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2395-5414.157563
Objectives: There is a paucity of data on acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in Indian patients. We herein report the in-hospital and 6-month outcome of Indian patients admitted with ADHF. Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with ADHF due to systolic dysfunction in the acute failure registry and followed them up for at least 6 months. We analyzed the data on death and hospitalization of the first 90 patients on death and hospitalization over 6-months. Results: A total of 90 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 53.5 ± 17. 7 years and the majority were male (63%). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 29.2± 11.9%. The in hospital mortality was 30.8%. Postdischarge 6-month major adverse event (re-hospitalization/mortality combined) and mortality rates were 39.5% and 26.3%, respectively. Conclusions: These data from a single referral center provide insights into the current status of acute HF care in India. We report a higher in-hospital and follow-up mortality rates in ADHF patients who present at younger ages than reported in Western literature. Keywords: Acute, decompensated, heart failure, India
How to cite this article:
Seth S, Khanal S, Ramakrishnan S, Gupta N, Bahl VK. Epidemiology of acute decompensated heart failure in India : The AFAR study (Acute failure registry study). J Pract Cardiovasc Sci 2015;1:35-8 |
How to cite this URL:
Seth S, Khanal S, Ramakrishnan S, Gupta N, Bahl VK. Epidemiology of acute decompensated heart failure in India : The AFAR study (Acute failure registry study). J Pract Cardiovasc Sci [serial online] 2015 [cited 2023 Jun 6];1:35-8. Available from: https://www.j-pcs.org/text.asp?2015/1/1/35/157563 |
| Introduction | |  |
The burden of cardiovascular disease is increasing in India. Estimates based both on data of established risk factors for heart failure (HF) as well as small studies suggest that the burden of HF in India is not <2-5 million patients [1] with an estimated prevalence of 2-3/1000 population. Results from clinical trials show that in-hospital mortality associated with cardiovascular disease is higher in India than in Western nations. Mortality rates due to myocardial infarction have been reported as high as 16.7% in Indian hospitals, [2] compared with rates of 4-7% in Western hospitals. [3],[4],[5]
Acute decompensated HF (ADHF) is defined as the acute or gradual onset of clinical progression of HF necessitating urgent medical care. In-hospital published mortality rates of ADHF in the US and Europe range from 4% to 7%. [6],[7],[8],[9] Even with best medical therapy based on the current guidelines, 6-month adverse event rates approximate 35%. [10],[11] Similar data are not available for HF from India. Data from the control arm of published Indian studies in HF intervention trials [12] suggest a mortality rate of around 10% over 6-month. Similarly the analysis of the data from some of the HF intervention trials from India, suggest that Indian patients are getting adequate doses of vasodilators for HF but probably tolerate lower doses of beta-blockers. [13] Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is also a major contributing cause of morbidity and mortality for acute HF [14],[15] unlike Western populations.
Since prospective data are limited regarding outcomes after hospitalization for acute HF syndromes in India. [16],[16],[17],[18] We sought to identify the characteristics and short-term outcomes of Indian patients with ADHF admitted in an Indian tertiary care center.
| Methods | | |
We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with ADHF due to systolic dysfunction admitted to our cardiology unit in the hospital-based Acute FAilure Registry (AFAR study) during a 6-month study period. Inclusion criteria included left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction <40% and worsening HF as the primary or secondary cause of admission. Patients were enrolled if they were hospitalized for episodes of new or worsening HF or if significant HF symptoms developed during hospitalization for another diagnosis. Consecutive patients were enrolled. Patients who were <18 years old and who refused consent were excluded. Patients were followed-up for 6 months for major adverse events, including death and re-hospitalization. The protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee.
Data collection
Data were directly collected from medical records for all clinical variables related to HF and treatment, including clinical variables such as functional class, metabolic parameters, treatment details and course in hospital. Follow-up data were collected during scheduled outpatient department visits in the HF clinic. We contacted patients who did not come for follow-up in the HF clinic via telephone to ascertain medication use, re-hospitalization, and death status.
Statistical analysis
Data are reported as means (±standard deviation) for continuous variables and proportions (percentages) of patients for categorical variables. Tests of differences in treatment and patient characteristics between the two cohorts were performed using Student's t-tests for continuous variables and the χ2 or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables. The logistic model for in-hospital death included the following variables: Age, blood pressure (BP), heart rate, baseline serum creatinine, use of intravenous inotropes, ejection fraction, baseline sodium, and gender.
| Results | | |
The study group was comprised of 90 patients [Table 1]. The mean age was 53.5 ± 17.7 years, and the majority of patients were men (63.0%) with LV systolic dysfunction. The leading causes of HF in this cohort were ischemic cardiomyopathy (53.9%), idiopathic cardiomyopathy (18.5%), and RHD (10.8%).
Systolic BP at admission was <120 mmHg in 64.6% of patients. Admission heart rate was >100 bpm in 34.4% of patients. Normal sinus rhythm was present in 77% of presenting electrocardiograms, and a conduction abnormality was present in 34% of patients. Laboratory studies included: Mean serum sodium =134.8+ 6.3 mEq/L, mean serum creatinine = 1.47+ 0.8 mg/dl, and mean hemoglobin = 11.9+ 1.8 g/dl. Of the 90 patients, hyponatremia was present in 9 (10%), raised serum creatinine in 11 (12%) and low hemoglobin in 5 patients (5%).
Intravenous diuretics (85.9%) and inotropes (75%) were the most commonly used in-hospital medications. In the majority, dobutamine was used (90%), and in 10% dopamine was used when initial pressures were low. At the time of this study, levosimendan had not been introduced, and milrinone was used only in 1 patient. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) were given at discharge to 71.1% and beta-blockers to 47.6%. At 1-month and 6-month follow-up, 88.2% and 96% of the 56 patients discharged were on beta-blockers, and 80.6% and 87% of patients were on either ACE-I or ARB therapy. Majority of patients were on Ramipril or other ACE-I inhibitors (82%), and 18% were on ARBs. The beta-blockers used were usually low dose: Carvedilol ranging from 3.125-6.25 mg daily at discharge (mean = 4 ± 1.4 mg) (94%). Ramipril doses at discharge were also low (3.1± 1.6 mg). Metaprolol, nebivolol or ivabradine were rarely used.
In-hospital mortality was 30.8%. Majority of in-hospital deaths were due to progressive HF (92%), and the rest were due to intractable arrhythmias (6%) or renal failure. Cumulative 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month mortality rates of discharged patients were 15.8%, 26.3%, and 26.3%, respectively. There were 42 patients surviving at the end of 6-month of follow-up. This suggested that the maximum events were occurring either within the hospital or within 3-month following discharge. Combined postdischarge major adverse event rates (death or re-hospitalization) were 27.3%, and 38.1% at 1-month and 6-months, respectively.
Predictors of morbidity and mortality
Baseline serum sodium (P = 0.04), exposure to inotropes (P = 0.04), and lower ejection fraction (P = 0.03) were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality [Table 2]. There were no other statistically significant predictors of inpatient mortality.
| Discussion | | |
This study provides descriptive data for acute HF patients in a tertiary medical center. This study provides initial insights into the presentation, treatment, morbidity and mortality of ADHF in India. The patients were relatively young (mean age 53 years), the causes were usually ischemic cardiomyopathy or idiopathic cardiomyopathy thought RHD was also a contributor. Mortality was high though patients were receiving medications as per the HF guidelines though at lower doses.
The mean age (53 years) was lower than Western cohorts (ranging from 65 to 73 years) such as EuroHeart Failure (EURO-HF) Study, [10] the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE), [19] the Organized Program to Initiate Life-Saving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure (OPTIMIZE-HF), [7],[20] and the Effects of Oral Tolvaptan in Patients Hospitalized for Worsening Heart Failure (EVEREST), [21] [Table 3]. This supports the concept that cardiovascular disease affects patients in India at a younger age than their Western counterparts. Overall, the mean ejection fraction was lower (29.2%) than ADHERE (34.4%) and OPTIMIZE-HF (39%). [19],[20]
Our patients have high rates of in-hospital mortality (30.8%), 6-month mortality (26.3%) and 6-month re-hospitalization (39.5%), which likely reflect the severity of illness of these patients. Data from ADHERE, OPTIMIZE-HF, EURO-HF demonstrate an overall in-hospital mortality rate of 4-7%, 90-day (limit of follow-up) mortality rate of 5-15% (depending upon presenting systolic BP), and 3-month re-hospitalization rate of 24-31% [Table 3]. [10],[19],[20] Our data show a very high mortality both in-hospital and also after discharge. This reflects the very sick nature of the patients who ultimately get admitted at this tertiary hospital due to triage. The less sick patients get referred to other hospitals or are managed in the emergency services for 24-48 h and then discharged after partial stabilization.
The mean systolic BP of patients in the patients was relatively low at 111.0 mmHg, which is likely a marker of end-stage disease present in the majority of these patients. For OPTIMIZE-HF patients with the lowest quartile of admission systolic BP (<120 mmHg), in-hospital mortality was 7.2%. For ADHF patients with an admission systolic BP <120 mmHg (63% of ADHF patients), in-hospital mortality was 40.5%. Admission systolic BP was <90 mmHg in 2% of ADHERE patients, 8% of OPTIMIZE-HF patients, and 19% of ADHF patients. [14],[15] The worse prognosis conferred in those patients with lower BP s is likely due to progressive pump failure. Our series also had only patients with systolic HF while majority of these registries included patients with preserved systolic function also which would have lead to higher baseline systolic BP and higher overall ejection fraction.
Inpatient medication rates were different from rates in Western literature. Intravenous inotropes were used more commonly in our inpatient cohort (75%) compared to OPTIMIZE-HF data (5.4%). In-hospital mortality of the subset of patients who received inotrope therapy and had admission systolic BP <120 mmHg was 17.9% in OPTIMIZE-HF and 44.4% in our patient cohort, reflecting the severity of disease in this subgroup. Baseline mean renal function, which typically affects the clinical decision to begin inotrope therapy, appeared lower compared to OPTIMIZE-HF; however, the patients may have had a lower mean body weight (and muscle mass) compared to patients in OPTIMIZE-HF, which could attenuate this potential difference. Mean serum sodium, which is another prognostic marker for HF, was also lower compared to OPTIMIZE-HF (134.8 mmol/dl compared to 136.7 mmol/dl). [20]
Heart failure management in-hospital recommended by guidelines includes assessment of ejection fraction and discharge with ACE-I or ARB. [19] In these patients, assessment of ejection fraction (89.2%), and discharge medication rates of ACE-I/ARB (71.1%) were performed on at or above levels seen in ADHERE and OPTIMIZE-HF. [19],[20]
Despite similar diagnostic rates and adherence to performance measures as compared to Western literature, 6-months mortality and 6-months re-hospitalization rates in the patients were 26.3% and 39.5%, respectively, which may reflect the severity of illness presentation in this cohort.
Limitations
The scope of this project carries inherent limitations. These cohorts have been limited to a single urban tertiary medical center in India, which represents only a fraction of India's heterogeneous population and may limit its validity. Data from other centers throughout India and other measures of ADHF care, such as quality-of-life and cost-effectiveness are also needed.
| Conclusions | | |
This registry describing baseline and outcome data regarding patients at a tertiary medical care center with acute or recent decompensated HF is the one of the first published data of its kind. Our data indicate a higher in-hospital and short-term mortality in patients with ADHF in India. This is data from a tertiary hospital and could reflect very sick patients. A larger representative nationwide registry could provide more accurate information to appropriately direct resources for improved cardiovascular health.
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[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3]
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